Superoxide dismutase and cytochrome P450 isoenzymes might be associated with higher risk of renal cell carcinoma in male patients

Literature data support the hypothesis that oxidative stress and the accompanying antioxidant defense might play an important role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) growth and progression. It is also known that the incidence of renal tumors is two times higher in men than in women. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the oxidant/antioxidant profile of renal cell carcinoma tissue, adjacent to tumor tissue and nontumor tissue was different in male and female patients. Significantly higher lipid peroxidation (LPO) in renal cell carcinoma tissue compared to nontumor tissue was demonstrated only in male patients. Besides, gender-related difference in copper zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in nontumor and renal cell carcinoma tissue was obtained at the level of transcription, translation and activity of these antioxidant isoenzymes. Morever, we demonstrated that the gene expression of 3 CYPs out of 7 was altered; CYP2D6 mRNA was decreased in both sexes while gender-related supression of mRNA for CYP2E1 (women) and CYP2C19 (men) was observed. Taken together, these parameters might be potentially responsible for higher risk of renal cell carcinoma in men than in women.